Executive Order Curtails Kalashnikov Imports from Russia [View all]

[appal_jack]

Executive Order Curtails Kalashnikov Imports from Russia

Ukraine-related Sanctions; Publication of Executive Order 13662 Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List 7/16/2014
​Today, OFAC is introducing the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List to identify persons operating in sectors of the Russian economy identified by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to Executive Order 13662. Directives found within the list describe prohibitions on dealings with the persons identified.
...

KALASHNIKOV CONCERN (a.k.a. CONCERN KALASHNIKOV; a.k.a. IZHEVSKIY MASHINOSTROITEL'NYI ZAVOD OAO; f.k.a. IZHMASH R&D CENTER; f.k.a. JSC NPO IZHMASH; f.k.a. NPO IZHMASH OAO; a.k.a. OJSC CONCERN KALASHNIKOV; f.k.a. OJSC IZHMASH; f.k.a. SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION IZHMASH JOINT STOCK COMPANY), 3, Derjabin Pr., Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic 426006, Russia; Registration ID 1111832003018 [UKRAINE2].

Ukraine-related Sanctions; Publication of Executive Order 13662 Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List


http://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/ssi.pdf

Note that this Executive Order does not affect all Russian goods, only those from concerns named. Why did rifles need to be among them? I oppose gun-control being enacted under false pretenses.

Russian Kalashnikov pattern rifles have been imported for many years in 'neutered' forms as Saiga Sporting Rifles. Most Saigas came in with their 'evil' military features removed, i.e.- no bayonet lugs, folding stocks, flash hider mounts, etc. Since about 2009, there has been a 'golden age' of Russian factory imports, where more truer-to-military form Kalashnikov-pattern semi-automatic rifles and shotguns have come in to the US. These include the SGL series of Saigas, the VEPR 12 Shotguns, and most recently the VEPR 1V version of the RPK in 5.56 caliber.

The executive order brings all this to a close - no more of the high-end accurate versions, no more neutered Saigas, nothing firearms related from Russia.

I wish that I had been able to afford a VEPR 1V or two. They were beautiful rifles that will be highly collectable in years to come. In my estimation, they went from $1K rifles to ~$3K+ rifles overnight thanks to this Executive Order. Even before the panic-pricing though, these accurate semi-auto AK copies were not being bought or used by criminals - they are expensive pieces marketed to militaria collectors and serious shooting enthusiasts.

-app